DISTRIBUTION:

The Antheraea moultoni moth flies in lowland forests in Borneo.

This species varies from orange-yellow through dull red to grey. It is much less variegated than celebensis; the fasciae are clearer and the submarginals are straighter. The bar in the forewing cell is well defined. The nacreous zone of the forewing ocellus in the male is smaller, and the whole ocellus is smaller than that of the female. Some females are almost pure yellow but the original female from Kuching is dull red. The male genitalia are typical of the frithi group.

"Taxonomic notes. Since Allen (1981) and Holloway (1981) discussed this species, a series of both sexes has been taken by T.P.G. Helps in Brunei. This has indicated the range of variations exhibited and has enabled more detailed comparisons to be made with celebensis and with the Brunei and Sarawak material associated with moultoni by these authors. This material was noted to differ from the type of moultoni; the significance of these differences has now become apparent, and the material is described below as a new species, bringing the Bornean total of frithi group species to four. The taxa billitonensis Moore, from Belitung I., north of Sumatra, and surakarta Moore, from Java, are very similar to moultoni and may prove conspecific when more material is available from these localities. In which case the name surakarta (1862) would have priority."

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to detect female scent which is distributed into the wind. Males fly into the wind in a zigzag pattern to detect the pheromone and subsequently locate the female.

Antheraea moultoni female

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Antheraea Genus

Return to Main Index

The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

"Antheraea" is derived from either the Latin "anthra" referring to pollen held in the anther (top part of stamen = male part of flower) or from the Greek feminine of "anthros" meaning flowery. There may be a link to the large and feathery antennae which distinguish many of the males of this genus.

The species name, moultoni, is honourific for Moulton.